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Residents from around Scotland will now be able to get instant advice on matters such as stopping smoking and sexual health from their local pharmacy, following the launch of a late-night pilot scheme.

The walk-in services will also offer a number of services dealing with minor injuries, illnesses and immunisation. They will also provide simple diagnostic services, such as checks to determine heart disease risk.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon launched the service during a visit to a pharmacy at Glasgow Central Station – one of eight involved in the scheme.

Pharmacies in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Airdrie, Edinburgh and Dundee are taking part in the project, which will also involve them opening for extended hours.

Some of the new services are already up and running, while the others will become available between now and the end of the year.

Ms Sturgeon said: "All the pilot projects will operate extended hours. Here at Glasgow, for instance, the pharmacy will stay open until midnight six days a week, providing smoking cessation advice and sexual health treatment as well as core pharmacy services."